Valve mechanism



April 18, P C TEMPLE VALVE MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 2, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 'umm Pn UL C. TEMPLE.

I tol-mcy April 18, 1939. P. c. TEMPLE VALVFl MECHANISM Original FiledAug. 2. 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Smcutor PAUL. C. TEMPLE.

Patented Apr. 18. 1939 UNITED STATES VALVE MECHANISM Paul C. Temple,Decaturrlll., assignor to A. W. Cash Company, Decatur, lll., acorporation of Delaware original application August z, 193s, serial No.683,365, now Patent No. 2,078,106, dated April 20, 1937. Divided andthis application 3, 1937, Serial No. 128,716

3 Claims.

This invention relates to valve mechanisms, and more particularly tovalve mechanisms arranged to control the pressure of a fluid inaccordance with the position of a float. The fluid being controlled maybe used to actuate a controller, such as a valve, which in turn maycontrol the flow of liquid into or out of a tank. This application is adivision of my prior application Serial No. 683,365, iiied August 2,1933, now Patent No. 2,078,106,fgranted April 20, 1937.

It is one object of the invention to provide a valve mechanism of thefloat-actuated type which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture,and thoroughly reliable in operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a float-actuatedvalve mechanism which may be readily adjusted to vary its operatingrange.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a iloat-actuatedvalve mechanism having a simple adjustment whereby movement of the floatin a particular direction will either increase or decrease the pressureof the controlled fluid, as may be desired.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention,and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a valve mechanism in operative relationshipwith other apparatus, certain parts being shown in section on the lineI-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 51s a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a tank I0 which ls supplied with liquid througha pipe Il, the rate of flow in the pipe being controlled by means of amotor valve I2. 'I'his motor valve is provided with a diaphragm chamberI3 containing a diaphragm I4, the latter being loaded by means of acoiled compression spring I5 and connected by means of a rod I6 to abalanced valve member With this construction, an increased pressure inthe chamber I3 will force the diaphragm I4 and. valve member I1downwardly, thus opening the valve and allowing an -increased `flow inthe pipe Il. In one construction which I have found satis- Marchfactory, a change of 13 pounds in pressure per square inch is necessaryto give full travel to the motor valve, the valve being wide open at 15pounds and fully closed at 2 pounds. Of course intermediate pressureswill result in corresponding intermediate positions for the valve memberI'l.

In order to control the pressure in the diaphragm chamber I3, I providea novel form of valve mechanism comprising a supporting frame shown as aplate I8 on which is mounted a hollow casing I9 shaped to provide aninlet chamber 20 and an outlet chamber 2| separated by a partition 22.The inlet chamber 20 is supplied with fluid under pressure by a meanswhich will be more fully described hereinafter, and the flow from theinlet chamber into the outlet chamber 2| is controlled by a valve memberor piston 23 which cooperates with an annular valve seat 24. 'Ihe seat24 is formed in a valve cage 25 which is screw-threaded into thepartition 22. 'I'he valve piston is slidably supported in the cage andis preferably provided with a. disk 26 at its vupper end which in closedposition contacts with the valve seat. 'I'he outside of the valve pistonis hexagonal, as shown in Fig. 5, to allow a space for the flow of uidbetween the valve piston and the cage. While the fluid pressure servesto bias the valve toward closed position, I prefer to supplement thisaction by means of a small coiled compression spring 21 mounted in thehollow interior of the valve piston and resting at its lower end on aplug 26 screw-threaded to the valve cage 25. The plug 23 is formed withan opening 29 therethrough to allow fluid to enter the valve cage fromthe chamber 20.

In order to control the fluid pressure in the chamber 2|, I provide aflexible diaphragm 30 which forms one wall of the chamber. Thisdiaphragm is clamped at its periphery between the casing I9 and a cap3|. The diaphragm 30 is located in a plane perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the valve member 23, and these parts areconnected by means of a pusher post 32 mounted on the diaphragm andextending downwardly through the upper-portion of the valve cage 25 andinto contact with the disk 26. The valve cage forms a guideway for thepusher post, and the outside of the post is square, as shown in Fig. 6,to allow flow of iluid between these parts. A central longitudinalpassage 33 is provided through the pusher post, and the lower end of thepusher post is beveled to provide a comparatively sharp annular surfacefor contact with the disk 26. These various parts are so arranged thatif the diaphragm moves upwardly and carries the vlower end of the4pusher post out of contact with the valve disk 3l, the huid may escapethrough the passage 33 into the space above the diaphragm and thence toatmosphere through'a vent 34 in the cap 3|. The pusher post 32 thusforms a relief or exhaust /valve as well as an operating means for theinlet valve 23. The pusher post is shown provided with a flange 34'which contacts with the lower surface of the diaphragm. An annularpressure plate 38 contacts with the upper surface of the diaphragm, andthese parts are all held in the proper relationship by means of a nut 36screw-threaded to the pusher post above the pressure plate.

The chamber 2| is connected by means of a passage 31 and a pipe 38 withthe diaphragm chamber I3 of the motor valve I2. so that variations inthe uid pressure in chamber 2| will cause the valve member i1 to changeits position. In order to control the speed of movement of the motorvalve, I have shown an adjustable needle valve 39 mounted in the passage31 and extending outwardly through a stumng box l0.

If the pressure in the chamber 20 should be very high, and the apparatusshould for any reason get beyond its operating range, there would bedanger of applying an excessive preure to the diaphragm of the motorvalve. In order to avoid this possibility and at the same time obtainbetter regulatinglaction, I preferably provide means for maintaining asubstantially constant pressure in the chamber 20. This pressure shouldbe only slightly higher than the 15 pounds necessary to produce fullopening of the motor valve. In order to obtain this pressure regulationand still retain a simple compact construction, the casing |9 is shapedto provide a chamber 83 which is separated from the chamber 20 by apartition 8l. The chamber 83 is supplied with compressed air or otherfluid under pressure from a suitable source through a pipe 85, and thisiluid flows into the chamber 20 under the control of a valve member orpiston 81 which cooperates with an annular valve seat 88. 'Ihe seat 88is formed in a valve cage 89 which is screw-threaded into the partition84. 'I'he valve piston is slidably supported in the cage and ispreferably provided with a disk 9| at its lower end which in closedposition contacts with the valve seat. The outside of the valve pistonis hexagonal, the saine as valve piston 23, to allow a space for theflow of fluid. A small coiled compression spring 92 is mounted in thehollow interior of the valve piston with its upper end supported by aplug 93 screw-threaded to the valve cage 89. 'I'he plug 93 is formedwith an opening 94 therethrough to allow fluid to enter the valve cagefrom the chamber 83.

In order to control the pressure in the chamber 20, I provide a flexiblediaphragm 96 whichl forms one wall of the chamber. This diaphragm isclamped at its periphery between the casing I9 and a cap 91. Thediaphragm 96 is located in a plane perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of the valve 81, and these parts are connected by means of apusher post 98 mounted on the dlaphragm and extending upwardly throughthe lower portion of the valve cage 89 and into contact with the disk9|. This pusher post is similar to the pusher post 32, and is providedwith a square outside and a central longitudinal passage I 00. The upperend of the pusher post is beveled to provide a comparatively sharpannular surface for contact with the disk 9|, and a flange |0| isprovided on the pusher post to contact with the upper surface of thediaphragm 80. An annular pressure plate |02 contacts with the lowersurface of the diaphragm, and the parts are held together by means of anut |04 screw-threaded to the pusher post below the pressure plate. Thediaphragm is supported against the fluid pressure by means of a coiledcompression spring |05 extending between the pressure plate |02 and a.hollow plug |08 screw-threaded to the cap 81 and provided with a vent|01. It will be noted that in relation to the valve 81, the chamber I3is an inlet chamber, and the chamber 20 is an outlet chamber.Furthermore, in relation to the mechanism as a whole, the chamber 20 isan intermediate chamber.

The diaphragm 30 is subjected to a controlled loading, so that thepressure transmitted through the pipe 38 to the motor valve may beregulated. For this purpose there is shown a sphere |00 mounted in acylindrical opening |09 in the cap 3| and contacting with the top of thepusher post 32. A horizontal lever ||8 is mounted above and in contactwith the sphere |08, the lever be ing pivotally connected at one end tothe plate |8 by means of a pin ||9.

In order to control the level of the liquid in the tank l0, I providemeans whereby variations in the liquid level will cause variations in'the loading of the lever ||8. This is preferably accomplished byutilizing a float which rises and falls with the liquid level, the floatbeing connected to the lever by means including a spring. In theconstruction illustrated, which is suitable for controlling the level ina tank under pressure, I have provided a hollow float chamber |2| whichis attached to the plate I8 and which is connected to the tank |0 bymeans of pipes |22 and |23 located respectively above and below thenormal liquid level. A float |25, which may be a hollow metal sphere, ismounted on one end of a horizontal arm |26 within the float chamber |2|.It will be understood that this float may be solid, and it may becounterweighted if necessary to provide buoyancy. 'I'he term "oat in thespecification and claims is not to be limited to a body which is lighterthan an equal volume of the liquid. The arm |26 is connected to ahorizontal shaft |21 arranged at right angles thereto and mounted in aball bearing |29 (Fig.

2). The shaft |21 extends outwardly from the float chamber |2l through astufilng box |39, and carries on its outer end a bracket |3| in which isrotatably mounted a screw |33 extending parallel to the arm |26. Axialmovement of the screw |33 is prevented by a shoulder |34 thereon and bya small screw |35 in the adjacent end thereof, as shown particularly inFig. 3. The screw |33 carries a nut |31 which is connected to the freeend of the lever ||8 by means of a coiled tension spring |38, andeye-bolt |39, and a nut |40. The nut |40 is knurled, and it is providedwith a spherical lower surface which contacts with a spherical socket inthe lever to form a swivel joint. It will be noted that the screw |33can be rotated to vary the position of the nut |31 relative to the axisof the shaft |21, thus varying the mechanical advantage of theconnection between the oat |25 and the valve mechanism member I1 aredetermined by the fluid pressure1 In order to support the bracket |3Iand shaft |21 more firmly, I preferably secure to the outer end of thebracket a short shaft |42 arranged in axial alignment with the shaft|21. This shaft |42 is supported in a ball bearing |43 mounted in aframe |44 secln'ed to the plate |8.

'I'he operation of the invention will now be apparent from the abovedisclosure. Compressed air or other fluid under pressure enters thechamber 83 through the pipe 85 and ows past the valve 81 into thechamber 20, where its pressure is effective on the diaphragm 96 which isbalanced by the spring |05. The pusher post 98, actuated by thediaphragm and spring, holds the valve 81 open sufficiently to maintainthe desired pressure in the chamber 20 irrespective of the initialpressure of the fluid or the rate at which it is withdrawn from thechamber 20. If no uid is being withdrawn, the disk 0| will contact withthe annular seat 0B and stop al1 iiow. In case leakage should occur pastthe disk 9|, tending to increase the pressure in chamber 20 beyond itsproper value, the diaphragm will move the pusher post downwardly and outof contact with the disk, thereby allowing fluid to exhaust from thechamber 20 through the passage |00 and vent |01. The pusher post underthese circumstances acts as a pressure relief valve.

From the chamber 20 the fluid ows under the control of the valve 23 intothe chamber 2|, when its pressure is effective on the diaphragm 30 whichis balanced by the force transmitted through the lever system. Thepressure in the chamber 2| is also effective on the diaphragm I4 of themotor valve I2, the diaphragm chamber I3 of the motor valve beingconnected to the chamber 2| by means of the pipe 38 and passage 31.Consequently, the amount of compression of the spring I5 and theposition of the valve in the chamber 2|.

The liquid level in the oat chamber I 2| will oi' course be the same asthat in the tank I0, and any variation in this level will cause thefloat |23 to move up or down. 'I'his will vary the tension of the spring|30 and the load applied to the lever H3, thus varying the fluidpressure transmitted through the pipe 38 to the motor valve I2. As aresult, the motor valve will move and either increase or decrease theflow in the pipe I I, as may be necessary to restore the desired liquidlevel in the tank.

With the construction illustrated, the spring I 33 can be comparativelylight, and its tension need vary only slightly throughout the operatingrange. This makes it possible to use a small iioat and still obtainaccurate control, with the degree of immersion of the float remainingsubstantially constant at all positions. Furthermore, the light springresults in light bearing loads, with practically no friction, and verysensitive operation.

By turning the screw |33 it is possible to varythe horizontal distancebetween the nut |31 and the axis of the shaft |21. thus changing thel uoperating range, that is, the distance the float |23 must move in orderto move the motor valve from the fully closed to the fully open positionor vice versa. By adiusting the nut |31 to the right hand side of theshaft |21 in Fig. 3, the operation will be reversed. and a rising liquidlevel will cause the duid pressure transmitted to the motor valve toincrease instead of decrease. This is necessary in case the motor valveis arranged to control the liquid level by controlling the discharge ofliquid from the tank, or in case the motor valve is of a type whichcloses with an increasing control pressure. By adjusting the nut |40 itis possible to vary the liquid level which will be maintained. A slightadjustment of this nut will be necessary when the operating range isadjusted, if the normal liquid level is to remain the same, for it willbe apparent from Fig. 3 that a variation in the position of the nut |31will cause a. slight change in the tension of the spring |38. Theinitial tension can be restored by a slight adjustment of the nut |40.It will be apparent from Fig. 1

that the vertical movement of the oat |25 is limited by the walls of theiloat chamber, even though the liquid level should for some reason getbeyond the operating range. The spring |33 prevents any excessive forcefrom being applied to the lever I8. The construction is simple andinexpensive, and if properly installed and adjusted it will maintain thedesired liquid level with great accuracy and without hunting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide a chamber foriiuid under pressure, means including a device responsive to thepressure in the chamber and operative to maintain said pressure at apredetermined value dependent upon the loading of said device, ahorizontal rotatable shaft, a. transverse arm connected to the shaft, afloat mounted on the arm, a bracket attached to the shaft, a membermounted on the bracket and adjustable in relation to the axis of theshaft, a lever connected with said device to load the same, and a coiledtension spring connecting the member with the lever, whereby the iiuidpressure maintained in the chamber will be dependent upon the positionof the float.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide a chamber forfluid under pressure, means including a device responsive to thepressure in the chamber and operative to maintain said pressure at apredetermined value dependent upon the loading of said device, ahorizontal rotatable shaft, a transverse arm connected to the shaft, afloat mounted on the arm, a bracket attached to the shaft, a membermoimted on the bracket and adjustable to either side of the axis.of theshaft, a lever connected with said device to load the same. and meansconnecting the member with the lever, whereby the fluid pressuremaintained in the chamber will be dependent upon the position of theiioat.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide a chamber forduid under pressure, means including a device responsive to the pressurein the chamber and operative to maintain said pressure at apredetermined value dependent upon the loading of said device, ahorizontal rotatable shaft. a transverse arm connected to the shaft, afloat mountedon the arm, a bracket attached to the shaft, a membermounted on the bracket and adjustable to either side of the axis of theshaft, a lever connected with said device to load the same, and a coiledtension spring connecting the member with the lever, whereby the fluidpressure maintained in the chamber will be dependent u pon the positionoi the dost.

- PAUL C. TIMPLI.

